PLANS BY ATRIA AND HK RUOKATALO TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE TURKEY BUSINESS Finland's largest turkey meat processing companies Atria and HK Ruokatalo have embarked on a feasibility study to work together to safeguard turkey production in Finland. The players are exploring the possibility of working together to improve the profitability of the turkey production process. The turkey business is currently unprofitable. Improving process operations would pave the way to increase the capacity utilisation rate and cut unit costs. This in turn would improve the competitiveness of Finnish turkey meat compared to imported meat. Work on this front would ultimately benefit the consumer. Atria and HK Ruokatalo are actively seeking various development models and actions to rationalise the Finnish turkey business. Atria and HK Ruokatalo are Finland's largest turkey meat production and processing companies, with a 38.6% and 17.9% share respectively of the fresh turkey meat market (Source: A.C. Nielsen 2005). Atria sells its turkey products under the Atria brand and HK Ruokatalo under the Kariniemen brand. A total of some 14 million kg of turkey meat was slaughtered in Finland in 2005. Imports now account for 16% of the total market. ATRIA GROUP PLC Seppo Paatelainen Chief Executive Director For further information please contact director Merja Leino, tel +358 40 580 1210. DISTRIBUTION Helsinki Exchanges Principal media www.atria.fi
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